Purdue Exponent

Monday, December 5, 2005

By Martin C. Jischke, President

University campuses seem to be idyllic places. People stroll among stately buildings. They enjoy lounging or studying around our fountains and gathering on our malls for a variety of activities. We feel protected and secure here, and, in fact, Purdue's West Lafayette campus is a very safe place.

Unfortunately, though, even this wonderful environment is not crime-free. We were reminded of this unpleasant fact last week when three young women were assaulted on or near the campus. The injuries they suffered have traumatized them and their families, many other students suddenly are wondering how safe they really are.

Five-year crime statistics compiled by the Purdue Police Department show that the number of assaults reported on campus averages about 30 per year. In addition, during the past five years, police investigated a total of 15 sexual battery reports and 20 reports of rape or attempted rape. By most statistical measures, these are very small numbers for a population the size of our campus community, but they are large enough to tell us that none of us can afford to take safety for granted.

One of the things we value most highly at Purdue is the free and open movement we enjoy both outdoors and within our buildings. But if we are going to continue to enjoy that kind of freedom, every individual must assume some responsibility for his or her own safety. You can also contribute to the safety of others by being alert to what is going on around you and reporting suspicious activity to the police.

Keeping yourself safe means taking a few simple precautions, the most important of which is to avoid being alone in areas where other people are not nearby, especially after dark. If being out late is unavoidable, then traveling in groups of two or more is a simple precaution that greatly decreases the risk. If you are going to be alone, take advantage of Safe Walk, a free escort service provided by the Purdue Student Security Patrol and our police. Safe Walk is available 24/7 by calling 494-SAFE.

Always make sure a friend knows where you are going, when you are planning to return and what to do if you are late. Take advantage of cell phone technology to keep someone informed of your whereabouts and any change in plans.

Whether or not you have a cell phone, you should be aware that Purdue has an extensive emergency phone system. More than 200 phones connect to police immediately when picked up. You should be familiar with these phones and know where they are located.

The Purdue police offer numerous safety education programs, including a Rape Aggression Defense course. Information about these and other valuable safety information is available on the police web site.

Avoiding high-risk situations -- including alcohol abuse -- is very important. Drinking makes you more vulnerable, and being around people who are drinking excessively puts you in danger in a variety of ways.

None of us can ever be perfectly safe, but all of us can reduce personal risk to a very low level just by taking simple, common-sense precautions. Ultimately, you will decide how safe you will be at Purdue.

Purdue Student Government will sponsor an open forum on campus safety to be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, December 7, in Fowler Hall in the Stewart Center. Representatives of the Purdue and West Lafayette police departments, the Office of the Dean of Students, the Purdue Student Health Center and the University News Service will be there to share information. I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity.

Your safety is a partnership between you and the University. Purdue will make every effort to do its part. Please make the effort to keep yourself safe.